end of life concerns

Vermont law allows families to care for their own dead. This includes transporting the deceased, burial on private property and cremation.

Find instructions and order forms for a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) or Clinician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (COLST).

Vermont residents with terminal disease have the option to be prescribed a dose of medication to hasten the end of their life. This option requires the participation of a Vermont physician. Physicians and patients must adhere to a process that provides immunity for both patients and health care providers who wish to take steps under the law.

No patient, physician or pharmacist may be required to participate in activities under the statute. Every step must be voluntary.

Get the step-by-step process for creating and/or registering a copy of your advance directive with the Vermont Advance Directive Registry.

Here is information about how to become an authorized provider, your obligations, definition of terms, and support contact information.

One way of helping a family understand what happened to their loved one is by performing an autopsy. Here is information on what to expect about the autopsy procedure and information about burials.

Each year a number of Vermont families and caregivers learn their child has a serious lifethreatening illness. Pediatric Palliative Care program has supports to help people under age 21.

A cancer survivor is anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, from the time of diagnosis through the rest of their life.